The University of Arkansas is in a somewhat unprecedented situation, having recently fired successful head coach Bobby Petrino because of off-the-field actions.

Most coaching changes come during the winter months but the Razorbacks are instead searching for a new head coach in the middle of April. With the rest of the staff that has helped the team to back-to-back string finishes still in place, the school and athletic director Jeff Long have been placed in a tough position to find Petrino's replacement.

On Monday afternoon word leaked out that the Razorbacks had made an unusual decision for its next football hire. Long decided an interim coach would be the best decision but actually went outside the program to find one.

Current Weber State head coach John L. Smith was tabbed as the interim head man in Fayetteville. Smith has previously served as head coach at Louisville, Michigan State, Utah State and Idaho and recently served as an assistant under Petrino at Arkansas.

Though an unorthodox move, the hiring of Smith was met with optimism by many high school recruits and coaches. In fact, the coach of one of the top programs in the state thinks the Razorbacks made a smart decision.